Alabama House of Representatives to vote on spay/neuter clinic protection bill today

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- As the world celebrates international Spay Day, members of the Alabama House of Representatives will be voting on a bill that would protect the nonprofit low-cost spay/neuter clinics in the state. ¶

HB156, introduced by Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham), adds an exemption to the Veterinary Practices Act that allows veterinarians to be hired by nonprofit clinics like Alabama Spay/Neuter in Irondale. ¶

Members of the state Board of Veterinary Examiners last year shut down a similar clinic in north Alabama and tried to shutter the Irondale clinic. The board contended that the clinics were not owned by a licensed veterinarian and were in violation of Alabama Code. The Irondale clinic was established by Birmingham veterinarian William Weber as a nonprofit entity, according to incorporation papers. ¶

According to the Code, only licensed veterinarians may hire other vets. The law does allow several exemptions; for example, shelters may hire vets to care for animals there. ¶

The proposed legislation also would allow any limited service, nonprofit clinic to hire veterinarians. A limited service clinic provides only spay/neuter surgeries. Vaccinations may be given only at the time of the surgery. ¶

Members of the veterinary examiners board are opposed to the bill. At a recent public committee hearing, William Welch, president of the board, told lawmakers that the board worried about the quality of care given at the low-cost clinics. The committee, however, voted unanimously to move the bill to the House floor for a full vote.

World Spay Day is an event sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States to advocate spay/neuter as a proven means of saving the lives of pets as well as feral cats and street dogs that might otherwise be euthanized.

According to the HSUS, more than 3 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year due to the pet overpopulation problem.

Area shelter figures indicate that between 50 percent and 75 percent of animals brought in are euthanized.

Since it opened about four years ago, the Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic has sterilized more than 80,000 dogs and cats.